Letters from readers: A simple choice

Friday

Jun 24, 2011 at 12:01 AM

CRIME OR EDUCATION

A simple choice

There was a time that the young were taught about work from their parents. For many modern or broken families, it doesn't happen anymore.

Unfortunately for our country, an increasing number of people think that stealing is a viable alternative to work because so few are caught and punished. Jacksonville is such a city. It ranges from high yield thieves who risk white collar crimes and depend on lawyers and position to escape punishment.

Our city now exists in sick times. We have become victims of misplaced values.

Jacksonville needs education for our youth and should never cut funding for schools. Turning our prisons over to private companies often makes smarter criminals, also angry young men and women.

So, the tomorrow of crime is here today. Will River City rise to the challenge?

Robert A. Taylor,

Jacksonville

GEORGIA-PACIFIC

Credibility questioned

We certainly appreciate the "significant time, effort and money" that Georgia-Pacific has expended to comply with the standards imposed upon them to clean up the toxins they discharge.

We are also acutely aware that the 2002 administrative order — which was the catalyst for these actions — is woefully inadequate in its requirements.

While plant management feels the "improvements" may be having a positive effect, it doesn't negate the fact that their discharge is still a danger to our river.

We all live downstream from the mill and are therefore the recipients of all the pollutants that flow here.

I don't find any sympathy in the fact that they've had to spend $200 million as a result of mandated improvements. In fact, we owe a debt of gratitude to the St. Johns Riverkeeper staff that advocates so tirelessly on behalf of our river.

Georgia-Pacific's integrity will only be restored when the company is able to serve their families the fish from the streams surrounding its plant and drink the water from the creek they have irreparably damaged.

Marti Pounder,

Jacksonville

YOUTH AND DIABETES

We need a cure

I am different from all other 15-year-olds.

I may go to high school, play sports, do homework on weekdays or sleep on weekends, but one thing separates me from thousands of others.

My life has been affected with Type I diabetes. I have been a diabetic for six long years, and unless something is done to cure this monstrous disease, I will have it for the rest of my life.

There are 23 million hardworking Americans just like me. That's over 11 percent of our adult population.

Millions of others are living with prediabetes. And it's not getting any better.

By the year 2050, 1 in 3 adults will have it.

What angers me is that few take the simple lifestyle changes to prevent this epidemic.

It can delay diabetes for 51 percent of people with prediabetes and can even prevent the onset of it.

Congress has authorized a nationwide program for diabetes prevention.

This program will give education to communities about this horrible disease and raise heavy awareness. Yet this program is not yet funded. If it were, it would help save $190 billion in lost labor and health care spending.

Funding diabetes prevention will also prevent cases like mine from touching people's lives.

Silas Mosco,

student,

Jacksonville

IDEA FOR SCHOOLS

Military academies

Idea for our failing schools — convert them all to military academies.

Have students taught by qualified military people: uniforms, physical education, discipline training, along with sports, core academics and skill development.

Guy Jennings,

Neptune Beach

Note to readers: The following two letters are the corrected versions published in Thursday's newspaper.

COMMANDER IN CHIEF?

President's golf

To the writer who has no problem with the president of the United States playing golf, I don't, either, to a point.

With the economy stalled, unemployment stuck between 9 percent and 11 percent with no effort to boost small and large business growth, we as Americans should demand a solid leader.

If Barack Obama wants to continue playing golf, he shall have plenty of free time come January 20, 2013.

Mike Conklin,

Jacksonville

REPLY: WEINER AND CLINTON

The real issue

The reader who wrote that Rep. Anthony Weiner didn't do anything as immoral as President Bill Clinton doesn't understand.

The "crisis management script" says that you immediately admit your wrongdoing when you are caught, you don't lie or blame others, you accept full responsibility, you attend counseling classes, you ask forgiveness and you state you will strive to be a better person.

Americans can forgive nearly any transgression but if you lie about it, especially to bosses, you are gone.

Jim Tuccillo,

St. Marys, Ga.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Stay Connected

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Florida Times-Union ~ 1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service